this is bbc news broadcasting in the uk and around the globe. our top stories... a russian invasion of ukraine is �*highly likely�*. that's the assessment of the uk defence secretary, as more than a dozen countries urge their citizens to leave and diplomatic efforts intensify. the us evacuates most of its embassy staff in kyiv as it expects that a russian military incusion could come �*any day'. warcan take an war can take an unpredictable path and if russia does act in the way we fear it will it will bring tremendous hardship and greater insecurity into the heart of europe. 13 people are injured after a mezzanine floor collapses

at a pub in east london. the uk prime minister's new chief of staff says the government will ”take a step back” from people's lives post—pandemic and pursue a smaller state canada's prime minister says all options remain on the table — as efforts continue to remove protesters blocking key trade routes. and it's the biggest day of the year for american football — super bowl 56 takes place in los angeles. hello and welcome to bbc news. us secretary of state antony blinken has said the "imminent" threat of russian military action in ukraine justifies evacuating the us embassy in kyiv. his words came after ukraine's president urged calm, saying the biggest enemy was panic. more than a dozen countries have urged their citizens to leave ukraine. there have been further attempts to defuse tensions in the region. in a phone call, presidentjoe biden warned russian leader vladimir putin of "swift and severe costs"

if russia sends in troops. meanwhile — the uk defence secretary ben wallace compared recent western diplomatic efforts to stop an invasion to the appeasement of nazi germany. with the latest — aruna iyengar reports. a frosty phone call between russia and the us has not yielded much — the two powers a long way apart. the defence secretary, ben wallace, has likened to these diplomatic efforts to appeasement during the second world war. he says the reality is that russia is highly likely to invade ukraine and warns that russia's military presence on ukraine's borders is so large they could launch an offensive at any time. but russia does have over 100,000 troops amassed on ukraine's borders. it accuses nato of not taking its security concerns seriously and wants the defence

block to promise never to admit ukraine to its membership. russia has tried to play down the threat of its military presence, saying the us is whipping up hysteria over an imminent invasion. war can take an unpredictable path, and we think if russia does act in the way that we fear it will, it will bring tremendous hardship and greater insecurity into the heart of europe, and that is a concern to all of us. there are fears that russia may initiate a so—called "false flag" operation. this might involve attacks on pro—russian groups in ukraine to create a pretext for an invasion. he has shown that russia will not be ignored. don't forget that only six months ago everyone was talking about china, particularly the biden administration. so putin has succeeded in getting his demands discussed publicly, being again the centre of attention and trying to demonstrate that russia is still a great power. despite the fact it is actually a declining power. if russia does invade, president biden says that nato countries will use sanctions to cripple the russian economy.

nato is supplying weaponry to ukraine and other eastern european countries but says it will not land troops in ukraine. time is running out for a peaceful solution. the us, the uk and other countries have told their citizens to leave ukraine immediately. aruna iyengar, bbc news. volodymyr ariev is a member of parliament for the main opposition party in ukraine — and gave his thoughts on the latest threat from russia. we are used to live in the permanent threat from russian federation side since 2014, but the troops surrounding ukraine from russia border to and belarusian border and says a state in full readiness. so we understand that as russian dramaturgist chekhov said,

"if the rifle is on the stage it should shoot". we have to expect that russia will not stand back due to international pressure and ongoing aggression could be the question only in the scope of the war that can be in the next days. mr zelenski tried to calm people down but we expect more to talking of a ukrainian president to the population and we understand that to reduce the level of threat speaking to people, i don't think it's a good idea. we need honest information and that is why our political party have initiated yesterday urgent hearings in the parliament. but people on the street, they are keeping calm, only some people are moving their families

or have moved their families to rural area and there is no panic in the shops. the only thing that disappeared from the shops is ammo. 0ur correspondent james waterhouse is in the ukrainian capital, kyiv and has more now on what life is like there. well, there are plenty of things not happening, let's put it like that. there are not military barricades, there are not soldiers on street corners or sandbags being piled up. this morning it is a crisp, fine day. people have been getting the bus as normal, taking the many subway routes where there are plenty of shops underneath going to work, going to work, getting a cup of coffee. there is a sense of normality. we have heard it over and over again, president zelenski urging people to not panic because that is their enemy's best friend, as you say. but it has caused some frustration with a couple of newspapers in the sense of that now is the time, they argue,

to be showing strength, not so much telling everyone to be staying calm while we have this heightening of language and urgency from western powers. president zelenski yesterday was at a military exercises in the south of the country, he was wearing a green uniform if you like, that has been welcomed in some corners, but when you have the uk defence secretary describing talks or comparing them with a peace deal that came before the second world war, you are left in no illusion as to how serious things are being taken. president biden spoke to vladimir putin for an hour yesterday, reiterating the consequences of an invasion would be devastating and that it would listen russia's status —— lesson russia's. .. in the world. russia has in turn said that they accused the west of stoking hysteria. the political argument goes on but as long as the argument does go on, the hopers it prevents any sort of further escalation. —— the hope is... and what is the view there on the response of western countries,

not just this sort of talk about what might be about to happen, but in terms of what is actually on the table? that is a bit of an unknown. for president zelenski, the idea of him making any concessions to russia is just not one he can swallow. it was a big election promise a couple of years ago that he would resolve this diplomatically, convince russia to pull back its presence. so the proposalfrom macron of france for both ukraine and russia on what is called the minsk agreement, and until now a failed peace deal, in those territories in the east held by russian backed militants, it would involve russia putting in place the conditions for a prisoner exchange and there to be immunity from prosecution is. ukraine would have to stage local elections which as far concerned would give moscow a direct hand in their own politics. both sides accused each other of not honouring it. there is deadlock there,

then we have a continued military aid coming in. that has been welcomed, of course any kind of unity, but what ukrainians keep saying is that they don't care how, they just want things to de—escalate, they want troops to pull away from the border, they want the areas around donetsk and gdansk to be in legal ukrainian control and what is clear to this point is nato troops, yes, are being deployed to eastern europe but only two nato members, not here on ukrainian soil should —— two nato members... there be an invasion or another type of escalation. a number of countries, the us, the uk and a number of others have told their nationals to get out of ukraine now, saying that there will be no chance for countries to come to the rescue of people trapped in the event of there being a conflict. are many people leaving? as far as the embassies are concerned, yes, we have seen staff leaving both the uk and us embassy. there is a core team remaining,

including the ambassador. but when you take it out of those diplomatic buildings, people are staying. we have seen british people who have been here for work and to be honest, it has not been immediately obvious to them the seriousness of the situation in terms of the foreign office advice for citizens to get out of ukraine. their main frustration has been the cancelling of flights which started to happen, there is a bit of disruption happening today and tomorrow. but that sense of urgency is not being translated in kyiv at least. people are getting on with things because there is a backdrop here. ukrainians are used to this tension. 80 years of russian aggression since the annexation of crimea eight years... and these backed militants moving into the east. that is a long time to be wondering what is going to happen and whether there is going to be an aerial bombardment as we were warned by the west this week. that is a long time and so i think that is reflected in people's attitudes and reactions.

we seeing demonstrations of national unity, independence square, thousands of people were there yesterday. it was organised by a right—wing group, but plenty of other people turned up because it was an opportunity to drape the nationalflag, for example, around your shoulders and chant in honour of your country. we are seeing a lot more of that and there are plenty of people out and about in the centre of town and it's a peaceful morning today, look at the weather, it is totally at odds with what is happening in a more global scale. president biden told putin there would be "swift and severe consequences" if russia invades ukraine. speaking earlier to the bbc, the white house senior adviser derek chollet says that a russian "military incursion" could take an unpredictable path. what we are worried about right now is russia's invasion of ukraine. its further invasion of ukraine and the consequences of that. war can take an unpredictable path and if russia

does act in the way we fear it will, it will bring tremendous hardship, greater insecurity into the heart of europe and that is a concern to all of us and are concerned the united states as a nato ally, it's a concern to the countries aboard a ukraine, the economic and political and security costs would be profound. ukraine's ambassador to the united kingdom, vadym prystaiko, told the bbc the comparison made by ben wallace was not helpful: it is not the best time for us to find our partners. i am reminding them of this act but it brought war. behind closed door we have been saying for a while but if you want to do something, this is the time and we are not appeasing him, he came to ukraine not to grab something, hejust wants came to ukraine not to grab something, he just wants us not to exist any more. in everything he is

achieving. people are notjust leaving but financial instruments are pulling out, it is hurting the ukrainian economy in the same way that people are leaving the embassy but people are leaving in the financial markets as well. the uk northern ireland secretary brandon lewis, was asked about a sunday newspaper headline suggesting defence secretary ben wallace said diplomatic efforts to halt russian i know the comparison he was drawing and about the intensive arguments that germany was an interesting and... i5 that germany was an interesting and... , . that germany was an interesting and... . ., ,, ., . and... is a directionless in france or germany? _ and... is a directionless in france or germany? no, _ and... is a directionless in france or germany? no, the _ and... is a directionless in france or germany? no, the point - and... is a directionless in france or germany? no, the point he . and... is a directionless in francel or germany? no, the point he was makin: is or germany? no, the point he was making is that _ or germany? no, the point he was making is that we _ or germany? no, the point he was making is that we are _ or germany? no, the point he was making is that we are all— or germany? no, the point he was making is that we are all working i or germany? no, the point he was| making is that we are all working in this divided to find a diplomatic outlet and is the right outcome but he is expressing the fear that russia may not be as genuine around a diplomatic outcome and the political engagement as we hope they are. but he also says he hopes they do mean what they said to him that they are not seeking to engage or to invade ukraine. at least 13 people have been injured

after a mezzanine floor collapsed at a pub in east london. firefighters rescued seven people who became trapped after the incident at the �*two more years' bar in hackney wick yesterday. paramedics said three people were seriously hurt and ten more had minor injuries. hal, a mental health worker from stratford, was on the mezzanine floor went it collapsed. it wasn't what we saw but what we heard. suddenly there was this earthquake—like rumble and before we knew it, suddenly the floor gave away and we all started to sink and quite fast. everyone began to scream, and we tried to process it because you never, ever are prepared for anything like this and thankfully the ambulance arrived within ten minutes or so. voting is under way in switzerland to decide whether to tighten tobacco laws — including a ban on advertisements anywhere that young people might see them. campaigners say the country has been

slow to adopt measures due to lobbying by tobacco companies. 0ur correspondent, imogen foulkes reports from bern. switzerland, a byword for good health and clean air but two million people here, almost one quarter of the population, smoke. most started when they were teenagers. every year 9,500 people die from the tobacco—related illness it costs billions on health and economic costs. that's why it is so important people to limit advertising, discounts and sponsoring. switzerland lags far behind the rest of europe over tobacco control. in a survey of 80 countries, it ranked second to last. campaigners blame lobbying by the industry. the words biggest tobacco companies have headquarters in switzerland. they contribute $6 billion a year and 11,000 jobs

to the swiss economy. those opposing the ban say it could open the door to restrictions on advertising other things. sugar, alcohol, even switzerland's beloved sausages. we are in an era where all advertising is likely to be banned. obviously, for the swiss business community, this is a serious problem. a really fundamental problem. the swiss government sides with business. it's calling for a no to the ban, but opinion polls suggest voters think differently. over 60% want an end to tobacco advertising. as ever, in switzerland, where all big policy goes to a vote, the swiss are deciding on other things, too. a proposed ban on animal testing and new subsidies for the media. but the key outcome today is likely to be switzerland finally calling time on big tobacco.

a russian invasion of ukraine is �*highly likely�*. that's the assessment of the uk defence secretary, as more than a dozen countries urge their citizens to leave and diplomatic efforts intensify. 13 people are injured after a mezzanine floor collapses at a pub in east london. canada's prime minister says all options remain on the table — as efforts continue to remove protesters blocking key trade routes. the mayor of london, sadiq khan, has said in a article in the observer that he will oppose the appointment of a new metropolitan police commissioner. this is until they understand the scale of the force's "cultural —— unless they understand... problems" and have a "robust plan" to deal with them. dame cressida dick resigned from the role on thursday after mr khan made clear he no longer had confidence in her.

with me now is harry phibbs the local government editor of conservative home. what do you make of this in terms of how much input sadik khan has or how much power he has in deciding the next commissioner, because it does reside with priti patel but we have already seen how his input has had the impact of cressida dick going? ultimately its priti patel�*s decision but of course if any body wants to stay in the job, then having the support of the mayor of london is important. because metropolitan police has got a national as well as looking after the police of london role. ifear that the lesson hasn't been learned and that we have had this awful combination of a lot of bureaucratic woke gestures and when cressida dick

was appointed everybody was excited about her being a woman whereas what we really need is someone who is effective at doing the job. and always woke gestures haven't actually stopped instances misogyny and racism... actually stopped instances misogyny and racism-— and racism... when you talk about woke gestures. — and racism... when you talk about woke gestures, the _ and racism... when you talk about woke gestures, the thing - and racism... when you talk about woke gestures, the thing that - and racism... when you talk about woke gestures, the thing that led | and racism... when you talk about i woke gestures, the thing that led to sadik khan losing faith in cressida dick was what was emerging about the sort of things were being said by serving metropolitan police officers, the serving metropolitan police officer who abducted and raped sarah everard, the loss of confidence among various communities across london in the leadership of cressida dick.— cressida dick. exactly, that is the awful combination _ cressida dick. exactly, that is the awful combination we _ cressida dick. exactly, that is the awful combination we have - cressida dick. exactly, that is the awful combination we have had . cressida dick. exactly, that is the i awful combination we have had that there has been lots of talk about institutional racism and then you get individual acts of racism not being dealt with.—

being dealt with. is that not exactly what — being dealt with. is that not exactly what institutional - being dealt with. is that not| exactly what institutional racism being dealt with. is that not. exactly what institutional racism is then, the fact that individual examples are not properly dealt with? i examples are not properly dealt with? ., ., ., ., , with? i would argue on the contrary. it's like with? i would argue on the contrary. it's like we — with? i would argue on the contrary. it's like we are _ with? i would argue on the contrary. it's like we are all— with? i would argue on the contrary. it's like we are all guilty _ with? i would argue on the contrary. it's like we are all guilty and - with? i would argue on the contrary. it's like we are all guilty and lets - it's like we are all guilty and lets all sign up for all these diversity courses and the rest of it. that deflects from good management and dealing with individual cases of genuine misconduct. i think that is why the metropolitan police has lost its way and there is an awful lot of process and very cumbersome procedures which a lot of good police officers get caught up in, yet when they are genuine scandals such as cover—up and delay and obstruction. there is a lot of risk management and i think sadik khan should take a lot of the responsibility for that. it is not just something he can always blame other people for.— other people for. what are you sa in: other people for. what are you saying he _ other people for. what are you saying he should _ other people for. what are you saying he should take - other people for. what are you | saying he should take response ability for? what is going on and it

was in belize?— was in belize? yes, i think you should. was in belize? yes, i think you should- he _ was in belize? yes, i think you should. he has— was in belize? yes, i think you should. he has been _ was in belize? yes, i think you should. he has been there for| was in belize? yes, i think you - should. he has been there for years and having cressida dick in charge and having cressida dick in charge and where his crime has been falling elsewhere in london no. it has been very politicised and he hasn't been working effectively with the commissioner to actually get crime down. there has been too much gestures and it has been too politicised. we haven't had any practical or effective crime fighting. practical or effective crime fiuuhtin. . , , practical or effective crime fiuuhtin. ., , , ., ~ practical or effective crime fiuuhtin. . y , ., fighting. harry forbes, thank you for “oininu fighting. harry forbes, thank you forjoining us- — fighting. harry forbes, thank you forjoining us. thanks _ fighting. harry forbes, thank you forjoining us. thanks very - fighting. harry forbes, thank you forjoining us. thanks very much. protests against covid regulations are continuing in canada, where traffic has been brought to a standstill at a key trading route with the united states. police were called in to clear the blockade which has been going on for nearly a week. jessica murphy reports. horn honks. it didn't take that many vehicles to block the busiest land border crossing in canada, but it's taking hours for police to clear the ambassador bridge blockade.

for the moment, the officers are trying negotiation tactics as they try to get protesters to leave peacefully after six days of demonstrations. their message that they tried to send from the very beginning has clearly lost its way, and i don't think the people here — notjust the police, but i don't think the people in our community or on the other side of the border are interested in hearing it any more. who are you protecting? with a vital trade route interrupted, the province of ontario declared a state of emergency on friday that brought in penalties like heavy fines and possible jail time for those participating in the blockades. that came into force hours later, alongside a court—granted injunction to remove the protesters. it took just day for the blockade on the ambassador bridge to put a squeeze on supply chains and cause anger on both sides of the border. it's an economic link between the us and canada. hundreds of millions of dollars in trade cross the border there each day. copycat protests in europe and around the world have sprung up in recent weeks, with supporters calling for an end to covid—19 restrictions. this is a grassroots people with their children

and their grandparents and parents coming together saying, "hey, you know, like, my rights and my freedoms are being infringed and denied here." drop the mandates, we go home. 15 minutes, we're gone. facing growing pressure from the white house at home, prime ministerjustin trudeau made this vow on friday. so, make no mistake, the border cannot and will not remain closed. but despite efforts to get dug—in protesters to leave, demonstrations continue nationwide. protests in ottawa are entering their third week now, with demonstrators and their trucks continuing to block much of the city centre. government officials are meeting to discuss these ongoing protests, but for the moment, there is no clear end in sight. jessica murphy, bbc news, 0ttawa. thousands of people have flocked to venice to celebrate carnival, for the first time in two years. the event usually draws tourists from around the world, but it was curtailed in 2020 because of covid and cancelled the following year. courtney bembridge has this report.

after two years of covid cancellations, carnival is back in venice. , , ., ., ., venice. this is the carnival of ho e, venice. this is the carnival of hone. covid _ venice. this is the carnival of hope, covid is _ venice. this is the carnival of hope, covid is ending - venice. this is the carnival of hope, covid is ending and - venice. this is the carnival of hope, covid is ending and we | venice. this is the carnival of - hope, covid is ending and we hope to return to our normal lives with hope and enthusiasm. i return to our normal lives with hope and enthusiasm.— and enthusiasm. i believe that venice is based _ and enthusiasm. i believe that venice is based on _ and enthusiasm. i believe that venice is based on art - and enthusiasm. i believe that venice is based on art and - and enthusiasm. i believe that - venice is based on art and therefore it has_ venice is based on art and therefore it has to _ venice is based on art and therefore it has to start again with art and so we _ it has to start again with art and so we try— it has to start again with art and so we try to _ it has to start again with art and so we try to make art among people. many have made a great effort, but it is a scaled—back affair this year, a hybrid of virtual and in—person events and no big parades. translation: unfortunately, because of the pandemic, there are few - people here, but we are here. we are the carnival. we do not need a big organisation. just come here and have fun — it's beautiful. i hope that in the next few days, there will be more masks around. i am glad that there are so many people, but i would like

to see a carnival atmosphere. it is estimated 50,000 people visited the city on saturday to mark the start of the celebrations. translation: | came here i with my whole family in masks to celebrate the carnival with all the venetians. good people who have also had great difficulties. today, we must have fun and that is all. italy has just eased the coronavirus rules mandating mask—wearing outside, but these revellers were all too happy to have their masks on. it's the biggest day of the year for american football fans —— super bowl 56 will take place tonight in los angeles. with a crowd of more than 70,000

and more than 100 million people expected to watch around the world , the adverts and the famous half—time show are as important as the game itself. that's the scene for some it does a strong jet coming out of north america and christ across the atlantic with bubbles of not helping to develop areas of low pressure with this when creating today's low pressure. this cloud is spilling its way northwards and eastwards and there is a lot of rain across western areas but easing across northern ireland and slowly across the western fringes of england and wales and may be a bit of brightness in the irish sea. a dry day for some in the irish sea. a dry day for some in east anglia and the south—east in the ring will then push in. strong of wins in the south with gail forster times and then parts of eastern scotland will be wet but the

further north you go hazy sunshine and light of the wins. temperatures today that because of the air is coming off the south and south—west it will be for february with 7—11 . a mild evening for the east and south—east but tempered by the winds and continuing into the night. rain will and go elsewhere and wins switching to a northerly direction for scotland and northern ireland and here it is where of clear skies and here it is where of clear skies and could be frost and ice into the start of the new week. for the commute on monday you have areas of low pressure to begin with but the ridge of high pressure making its way slowly and making the showers fewer in number but there are plenty to begin with and those will be cool to begin with and those will be cool. claudia stay in england and wales in the cloud pushing its way southwards and brightening up for the north west scotland and northern ireland continue to have showers with the showers wintry in northern scotland as the air turns cold. some snow over the hills and these are the temperatures at their highest on

monday and it will feel colder than that. called surfer tuesday with snow in the mountains and quickly turning to sunshine and wintry showers and in the far north of england. england and wales have outbreaks of rain and stalling by the end of the day. temperatures here are up to 10—11 and another chilly one in scotland and northern ireland. an area of low pressure in the middle part of the week to the north with gales and severe gales and it brings in for a time wins all the way from the mid—atlantic so we will see temperatures climb into the mid teens but throughout this week we will see a fairly changeable one and expect dry weather but a lot of rain at time and strong winds. the wind, this is bbc news. the headlines: a russian invasion of ukraine is �*highly likely�*. that�*s the assessment of the uk defence secretary, as more than a dozen countries urge their citizens to leave and diplomatic efforts intensify.

thirteen people are injured after a mezzanine floor collapses at a pub in east london. the uk prime minister�*s new chief of staff says the government will “take a step back“ from people�*s lives post—pandemic and pursue a smaller state canada�*s prime minister says all options remain on the table — as efforts continue to remove protesters blocking key trade routes. and it�*s the biggest day of the year for american football — super bowl 56 takes place in los angeles. ashleyjohn—baptiste is a bbc reporter who grew up in foster care and spent most of his life believing he was an only child. that is until his mid—20s, when he received a life—changing message. now on bbc news he explores the separation of siblings by the uk care system.

i can�*t even remember the first foster home i lived in because i was so young. i went into care at the age of two and didn�*t leave until i was 18. i always wondered whether i was considered for adoption and never had the courage to ask about it as a kid. it�*s really hard to describe what it felt like being shunted before five different homes before the age of 18. it felt like being under a cloud of rejection, like no sense of family, no sense of belonging. check what happens in my mid to late 20s and i�*m still coming to terms with my own childhood — i get a message from a man on facebook who tells me that he�*s my brother. it was completely crazy because for a long time, i thought that i was kind of isolated, in terms of family, that i didn�*t have anyone, but i�*ve got a brother, that�*s life—changing.